Mediums Network

New Year resolutions.

Author: | Posted on: January 2, 2013

New Year is a time for opening up new doors, fresh vision and starting life with a breath of fresh air.  In essence the New Year offers inspiration, vitality and the instigation of a new dawning on life and a break from the old efforts and emotions of the past.  

Amongst the cultural and integrated rituals of the time of the year are resolutions and promises which one can make to help see the start of the new Year in.  New Year’s resolution is a commitment to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of some attitude or a habit.  A key element to a New Year’s resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is towards its focus and positive energy.  It is a pledge that is made in anticipation of the New Year and the introduction of new beginnings.  It evokes a reflection of what one does, how one approaches life and their attitudes to certain parts of their daily or more general tasks.  People committing themselves to a New Year’s resolution plan to enhance their lives and do so for the whole following year.  This lifestyle adaptation is generally interpreted as advantageous or positive.

A number of historical people, civilizations and orders partook in resolutions, the breaking of old perhaps less productive actions and sought to build for a better time ahead.

The ancient Babylonians promised to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and repay their debts.

The Native American tribes held ritual clensing of the old stains, bad decisive actions and prayed that they be given guidance in making the right decisions which would help to augment the lives of their people. 

The Romans began a year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named.

It is from the Medieval era, that the knights took the “peacock vow” at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry and conduct.  A close trait and somewhat similar to that which we do in pledging to a resolution or mean of improving one’s interactions for the start of the new year.

At watchnight services, many Christians will prepare for the year ahead by praying and making these resolutions from which so much tradition, history and established belief and foresight play a part.

There are other religious parallels to this resolution making. During Judaism’s New Year, Rosh Hashanah, it is kept through the High Holidays and culminating in an event of Yom Kippur (also known as the Day of Atonement), one is supposed to reflect upon one’s wrongdoings over the year and both seek and offer forgiveness for past actions. People may act similarly during the Catholic fasting period of Lent, though the motive behind this holiday is more of sacrifice than of responsibility, in fact the practice of New Year’s resolutions partially came from the origination of Lenten sacrifices and the idea of reshaping and rebirth. The concept, albeit regardless of creed, is to reflect upon self-improvement.

I write at this stage about this resolution making because at its heart it is also very close to spirit affinity and the aim of spirit when they help make connections, build on memories of life shared and offer advice about future times to come.  It is an opportunity which should not be missed, the start of the year can be so fleeting but also overall provide us with a level ground upon which to build a better, more enhanced and fulfilling life.

Spirit endevour to show, guide and to some extent decipher the acts of people and how they can depend or rely on one another.  It is through the individual acts, small and potentially life altering courses that we choose that life can go on to be a matter for good or bad reflections.  I think the most important lesson that can be taken from the art of resolution making is that it is meant for us to look at ourselves, to look at our lives even in the most fragmented parts and to analyse whether our intentions match our relationship, practical or public demonstation of what we do and feel.  

Resolutions are important and even though we are now a partial month in to this new phase it can be a good instant for looking at just how much we have adhered to what we have set out to do.

Each life is vital.  Efforts are made at the start of the year and it is often January when people think most about the impact that they have on others.  As it is close to the begining of this anual monthly period it is just as significant to think on the subject and decide if we are living up to what we feel we should be reflecting.

Spirit show us thought is given to lives lived.  We have the chance to give more, do more and to look beyond ourselves and sometimes it is also a part or consequence of life to neglect or ignore how regulated and conventional our paths can become.  A time to make, shape and internally consider gives one a moment to build and reaffirm their aims.

I hope people can see the good, the things which they have done no matter how small and feel pride for the year we have just said thanks to and received.  I also conclude by stating that a gesture half lived out is no more than a whisper in the air but an instinct, followed up by a resolution and an act can restore life and be the visible flame on a wick seen and lifting the hearts of many.

Pic is of an early sheet of New year visions taken from online encyclopedia.